Somehow week twenty nine almost crept by without the camera coming out. Sure, we took some quick snaps on our phones, however mostly we just were this week. Through the end of colds to pushing through the second week of the school holidays, we just were.
As a family, seeing friends and having sleepovers with much loved cousins. At the end of the weekend, when my folks popped over late on Sunday afternoon, Clark went outside to join his dad digging scraps into the garden. "Do you need help?" is a question Clark so sweetly often asks at the moment. So even when it means we all have to pause while finding gumboots and beanies or pushing back what was hoped to be a quick dinner preperation, we do just that. Let him help. He loves it and I believe it is an important to his sense of belonging and also his sense of generosity.
That his response to me asking him to help clean up his toys is sometimes met with a "no you do it" is another story!
In the midst of days and days of rain and wind we had a glimpse of blue skies and slightly warmer weather on Saturday afternoon. Clark was down for a rather long nap when the clouds cleared and the sun came out. Glenn and I tossed up the options of making it out to the Arboretum before the sun came down. I went back and forth between an Arboretum adventure of just going to the nearest park. In the end we decided to brave the lowering light and make a mad dash to the Arboretum once Clark woke up.
I am so glad we did. The light extended itself and did not end our adventure prematurely. We had a small play at the new Pod Playground, where I have never seen so many children in one place! Clark was a bit intimidated at first and sat high on a slope and surveyed the scene. After he finally had a play, we went for a lovely walk, climbing hills and looking at trees. And Clark's favourite thing? Chasing the magpies. He was relentless, running after them and, oddly, mooing. For how do you scare away something? You moo at it apparantly.
I truly believe that it is when you cannot fathom the idea of upping and heading on an adventure, that you need it the most. I am sure I have said this before, but I mean it. However when it is cold and grey or the week has been long, it can be easy to forget that once we arrive at our destination and get out in the air everything is simply better.
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On another note, and for prosperity sake, this week Clark finally received a mould for his FM. This was something a bit new for Australian Hearing and I am grateful that they extended themselves and were innovative. The FM receiver was not sitting properly in Clark's ear, so the audiologist suggested an ear mould (similar to when he had a hearing aid). It finally arrived and we have had two days of Clark using the FM during group time at childcare, and have had huge success. Besides the obvious outcome of Clark being able to hear his teacher better amongst the noise of the Toddler room, it also really highlights to the teachers how much extra attention Clark needs in order to hear. That although you can have a one on one conversation with him in close proximity, he really struggles at times to hear specific sounds when there are other noises to distract him. This knowledge can only be a good thing and mean that the staff will be more aware of his hearing loss. This is something that Clark will use when he is at big school, so the more we use it now the more used to it he will be down the track. Another positive!
Clark went to his first birthday party today that was for a friend, his best friend Jack. Clark woke this morning and when I asked what he was doing today, he said he was going to Jack's birthday party for cake. A birthday for Clark at the moment is all about the cake. And generally Clark thinks it will be a purple or pink cake, And that presents should be purple or pink. This birthday party also involved Clark learning about present-giving. Yes, he knows we give presents, but this time when he saw what the present was he wanted it for himself. Explaining to him that it was for Jack's birthday, Clark wanted to know if he could share the present. Sweet boy. Thankfully he coped fine once at the party and I feel that that lesson is learnt. He also learnt about lolly bags, and raced inside when we got home to show his daddy 'my bag'. I allowed him a lolly from the bag on the way home (which he decided he did not like) and said he could have the Freddo Frog after his sleep. Of course the first thing he asked for when he woke up from his long nap was "my bag". And happily devoured the Freddo Frog. And that is his first friend birthday party done and dusted!
Just a short note today, as our boy is rugged up on the couch watching Mister Maker (which he finds hilarious) as he has a cold. We are all a bit worse for wear today, so all plans of an afternoon outing have gone out the window and we are just going to hide out in Chez Ware. Lemon and honey tea for me!
This weekend we went to Sydney for a cousin's wedding. We took the opportunity to take a mini-break as a family and although it rained and rained and rained (and rained some more) we had a wonderful time. Three nights away flew by. It is the first time our boy has been to Sydney and he was a bit shell shocked. The crowds threw him, and he was rather off his game in the hustle and bustle. It brought out his rude side, with Clark shouting 'go away' at the strangers that we passed in the street. Unfortunately we missed out on going to the Zoo, which was one of the big reasons we took an extended break away. Clark learnt about disappointment, and thankfully handled it with grace. We did go to the Aquarium and also the Australian Museum, both which caused delight and trepidation in our little man. He was thrilled with the Monorail and I am so happy that he managed to have a ride before they shut it down forever. The whole holiday really was geared around Clark, which of course is how it should be.I have spent my life traveling to and from Sydney, and it was strange not only to not visit my old haunts, but also to visit new ones.
It was really lovely to get to see Clark meet my family that he has not met. Trying to explain to him who people are and how they relate to him, and also feeling incredibly proud of my little family. Yes, Clark was rambunctious at the wedding, however what is one to expect from a two year old? Calling out 'what comes next?' during the wedding reception thankfully had people smiling. Later during the reception, my usually shy boy decided he wanted to play with the older boys running around the dance floor. He had met a little boy (5) who tried to engage with Clark, however Clark ran away and hid. Later when we were sitting down, he asked me about the boy and when asked, said he wanted to play with him. I encouraged him to do so, and he asked me to come. I was terribly proud when upon my answer of 'Mama will sit here and watch you' he got up and ran off to find the boy. He had a ball, and we struggled to convince him to leave the party and head home. I loved seeing him playing with the other children, engaged and happy. I delight so much in seeing him interact with other children, not only because I so want him to make friends, but because I see another side to his personality. This part of him that is separate to me and means that one day he will go off into the world a whole and individual being.
